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The common orchid sold at home stores and supermarkets often doesn't make it past the two-month mark, say Bill Renick and Stephen Laifer of the Genesee Region Orchid Society.

But that's because home gardeners aren't given the right information on how to care for the flowering plants. A common mistake is using ice cubes to water the plant. Ice is never found near orchids in nature, Renick notes.

Education is the core mission of the Genesee Region Orchid Society, Renick says. People who purchase the home-store orchids may develop an interest in the plants and move on to different varieties.

Orchids are very popular with home decorators seeking to add an exotic element. The low prices of the starter Phalaenopsis, about $20 at supermarkets, have made the pretty plant commonly available.

Orchids can be addicting, says Laifer, who started with a few simple plants and now has a giant terrarium filled with different varieties. A horn player with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Laifer has turned his hobby into a side business selling his homegrown orchids.

Laifer built the large terrarium and set up artificial light to feed the orchids. He loves all of the different shapes and colors of orchids such as the Paphiopedium, with flowers in the shape of slippers and native to southeast Asia, and the Bulbophyllum, a striking plant with spidery, long petals on the flowers.

Growing orchids is a challenge for many people, Renick says. For the 100 or so members of the Genesee Region Orchid Society, it's a challenge worth taking. Some enjoy finding rare species of orchids, some are aiming to for that blooming flower that will earn prized recognition, while others just want to meet people with similar interests and share in their knowledge of orchids, Renick says.

Many members start out as curious novices eager to learn more about the pretty plants and how to care for them.

"If people only knew how easy it is to get them to grow again, they would never throw them out," Laifer says of common orchids.

Like Laifer, some members have specialties. Laifer recently won a cultural award from the American Orchids Society at its East Coast orchids show for his indoor growing.

Phalaenopsis with its famed arch and multiple blooms is a great beginner plant for people who are just starting to enjoy the beauty of orchids, Renick says. Phalaenopsis is also easy to care for, but is often killed prematurely with incorrect watering.

Once folks learn how easy it is to take care of Phalaenopsis, they may want to branch out and try other orchids, Renick says. The Cattleya, the orchid that is often seen in corsages, is a good choice as they are also easy to grow.

MCHAO@DemocratandChronicle.com

Twitter.com/MaryChaoStyle

Taking care of orchids

Here is some advice from Stephen Laifer and Bill Renick of the Genesee Region Orchid Society:

• Orchids should be watered only when they start to dry out. Place the plant in a sink and run through tepid water and let in drain. Orchids in nature are typically on barks, and your orchid should be planted in bark or moss.

• Orchids like a low light.

• The plants do best in temperatures no lower than 60 degrees at night and no higher than 80 degrees during the day.